Vehicle Anchoring Apparatus and Method of Use

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a vehicle anchoring apparatus having a first vice assembly and a second vice assembly and is adapted to anchor the frame of a discrete frame vehicle, the pinch weld of a pinch-welded unibody vehicle, or simultaneously both the discrete frame and the pinch weld of a hybrid structure vehicle. The vehicle anchoring apparatus is adapted such that the need to perform a “take down” or setup of an anchoring apparatus that is otherwise required in order to switch from securing a discrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle to securing a unibody vehicle is eliminated.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/358,651, filed Jun. 25, 2010,which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatuses and devices for use inanchoring and aligning deformed vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicle frame anchoring and alignment apparatuses are well known in theart and have wide spread usage in repairing vehicles that have beeninvolved in a collision. An exemplary apparatus is the vehicle frameattachment apparatus that is fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,176and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Suchvehicle frame attachment apparatus is extremely useful in gripping theframe of a vehicle that has been bent or deformed due to for instance acollision, so as to apply a load to the frame and/or the vehicle tocorrect the deformity. While extremely useful in the aforementionedfunction for vehicles that have a discrete frame, such apparatus is notwell suited to gripping and holding so-called “unibody” vehicles orhybrid structure vehicles having both discrete frames and pinch weldedstructures (pinch welds). Such unibody vehicles typically have a portionof the vehicle body that terminates in a “pinch-weld” in the place of adiscrete frame. Such pinch-welds are typically much thinner thandiscrete frames and typically will not withstand as high of loading asdiscrete frames. If a given platform (a platform being for instance thestructure into which one or more vehicle frame anchoring and alignmentapparatuses of U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,176 are mounted) has been setup touse the vehicle frame anchoring and alignment apparatus of U.S. Pat. No.7,150,176, the platform would need to be revised by taking down thevehicle frame anchoring and alignment apparatuses of U.S. Pat. No.7,150,176 and by setting up anchoring devices that are adapted to anchorunibody vehicles such as unibody vehicle having pinch-welds.Furthermore, under prior art practices, hybrid structure vehicles oftenresult in tears to floor panels and other vehicle portions due to thepoint loading of prior art anchoring and alignment systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a vehicle anchoring and alignment apparatushaving a first vice assembly and a second vice assembly and beingadapted to anchor a discrete vehicle frame, a unibody pinch-weldedvehicle, and a hybrid of a discrete vehicle frame and a unibodypinch-welded vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readilyunderstood, a more particular description of the invention brieflydescribed above will be rendered by reference to specific embodimentsthat are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are nottherefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the inventionwill be described and explained with additional specificity and detailthrough the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a trimetric view of a first embodiment of the vehicleanchoring apparatus,

FIG. 2 is a reverse trimetric view of a first embodiment of the vehicleanchoring apparatus,

FIG. 3 is a reverse trimetric view of a first embodiment of the vehicleanchoring apparatus with reference vehicle structure shown clamped invehicle anchoring apparatus, and;

FIG. 4 is an exploded trimetric view of a first embodiment of thevehicle anchoring apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” andsimilar language throughout this specification may, but do notnecessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics ofthe invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details areincluded to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of theinvention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, thatthe invention can be practiced without one or more of the specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. Inother instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are notshown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of theinvention.

FEATURE TABLE # Feature 10 Vehicle anchoring apparatus 20 Frameattachment apparatus 30 Post 32 Set hole 40 Primary vice assembly 50Vice body 52 Digit reception hole 54 Hook 60 Grasping digit 62 Graspingdigit shank 64 Shank rectangular cross-section portion 66 Shankcylindrical cross-section portion 68 Grasping digit foot 70 Digit attachnut 80 Opposable member 82 Opposable member first flange 84 Opposablemember second flange 86 Flange engagement projections 90 Auxiliary viceassembly 100 Frame 102 Frame upper member 103 Upper member slot 105Frame lower member 106 Lower member slot 108 Frame strut 110 Opposablebracket 112 Opposable bracket upper member 113 Upper member fastenerhole 115 Opposable bracket lower member 116 Lower member fastener hole118 Opposable bracket strut 120 Grasping plate 122 Grasping platefastener hole 124 Grasping plate engagement projections 130 Bracketfastener 132 Bolt 134 Nut 140 Plate attach fasteners 142 Bolt 144 Nut150 Frame reference structure 154 Pinch weld reference structure

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings, a first embodimentof the invention is a vehicle anchoring apparatus 10 adapted to anchordiscrete frame vehicles having a discrete frame 150, unibody vehicleshaving a pinch weld 152, and hybrid structure vehicles having both adiscrete frame 150 and a pinch weld 152 comprising a frame attachmentapparatus 20 and an auxiliary vice assembly 90.

Frame attachment apparatus 20 further comprises post 30 and primary viceassembly 40. Primary vice assembly 40 further comprises vice body 50, atleast one grasping digit 60, digit attach nut 70, and opposable member80. Post 30 preferably comprises a substantially hollow cylindricalmetal post having a plurality of set holes 32. Vice body 50 preferablycomprises a substantially elongated cubic shaped hollow metal bodyhaving at least one preferably rectangular shaped digit reception hole52 and optionally at least one hook 54. Grasping digit 60 preferablycomprises a metal grasping digit having shank 62 connected to foot 68.Shank 62 preferably transitions from a rectangular cross-section portion64 on a first end to a cylindrical cross-section portion 66 on a secondend. Rectangular cross-section portion 64 is connected to foot 68 andcylindrical cross-section portion 66 is preferably threaded and includesthreaded digit attach nut 70 threadingly and removably attached tocylindrical cross-section portion 66. Digit attach nut 70 preferablydefines a conventional threaded metal nut and may be combined with aconventional metal washer. Opposable member 80 preferably comprises anelongated “L” shaped metal member having first flange 82 and secondflange 84, with second flange 84 preferably including a plurality ofengagement projections 86.

Primary vice assembly 40 is assembled such that vice body 50 is rigidlyfixed preferably by welding to an upper end of post 30, opposable member80 is rigidly fixed preferably by welding to an upper surface of vicebody 50, grasping digit 60 is movably positioned within rectangularshaped digit reception hole 52 such that grasping digit 60 may moveaxially but such that rotational motion of grasping digit 60 isrestricted, and digit attach nut 70 is threadingly engaged to shankcylindrical cross-section portion 66.

Auxiliary vice assembly 90 further comprises frame 100, opposablebracket 110, grasping plate 120, a plurality of bracket fasteners 130,and a plurality of plate attach fasteners 140. Frame 100 preferablycomprises a metal weldment forming a substantially “L” shaped structurehaving upper member 102, lower member 105, and strut 108 connectedtherebetween, with each of upper member 102 and lower member 105 havinga plurality of slots 103 and 106 respectively. Opposable bracket 110preferably comprises a metal weldment forming a substantially inverted“T” shaped structure having upper member 112, lower member 115, andstrut 118 connected therebetween, with each of upper member 112 andlower member 115 having a plurality of fastener holes 113 and 116respectively. Grasping plate 120 preferably comprises a substantiallymetal plate having a plurality of fastener holes 122 and optionally aplurality of engagement projections 124. Bracket fastener 130 preferablydefines conventional threaded metal bolt 132 and conventional metal nut134, and may be combined with a conventional metal washer. Plate attachfastener 140 preferably defines conventional threaded metal bolt 142 andconventional metal nut 144, and may be combined with a conventionalmetal washer. It shall be noted that while auxiliary vice assembly 90depicted in FIGS. 1 through 4 is shown in a vertical or upright or 90degree gripping orientation, auxiliary vice assembly 90 may be providedto grip at angles other than 90 degree angles. Specifically forinstance, auxiliary vice assembly 90 may be provided to grip at anapproximately 17 degree angle to accommodate for instance the pinch weldof a Ford F-150 pickup truck.

Auxiliary vice assembly 90 is assembled such that opposable bracketlower member 115 is slidingly positioned on frame upper member 102 withbracket fasteners 130 readjustably positioned in frame upper memberslots 103 and opposable bracket lower member fastener holes 116 so as torepositionably connect opposable bracket 110 to frame 100, and graspingplate 20 is clampingly and readjustably positioned on the opposablebracket upper member 112 with plate attach fasteners 140 readjustablypositioned in opposable bracket upper member fastener holes 113 andgrasping plate fastener holes 122 so as to repositionably connectgrasping plate 120 to opposable bracket 110.

Vehicle anchoring apparatus 10 is assembled such that frame lower member105 is positioned next to a side of vice body 50 opposite grasping digitfoot 68 with grasping digit cylindrical cross-section portion 66 passingthrough frame lower member slots 106 and with digit attach nuts 70repositionably connecting auxiliary vice assembly 90 to frame attachmentapparatus 20. Vehicle anchoring apparatus 10 is adapted such thatauxiliary vice assembly 90 may be repositioned vertically relative toprimary vice assembly 40 and such that opposable bracket 110 may berepositioned horizontally relative to frame 100.

In practice, a vehicle having a discrete frame 150 (typically completewith a damaged vehicle fastened thereto) may be positioned with frame150 secured in primary vice assembly 40 such that frame 150 does notrelease under a vehicle deformation correction load or a unibody vehiclehaving a pinch weld 154 may be positioned with pinch weld 154 secured inauxiliary vice assembly 90 such that pinch weld 154 does not releaseunder a vehicle deformation correction load or a vehicle having adiscrete frame 150 and a pinch weld 154 may be positioned with frame 150secured in primary vice assembly 40 and with pinch weld 154 secured inauxiliary vice assembly 90 such that frame 150 does not release under avehicle deformation correction load and such that pinch weld 154 doesnot release under a vehicle deformation correction load. It is notedwhen using vehicle anchoring apparatus 10 that no take down or setup ofvehicle anchoring apparatus 10 is required in order to switch fromsecuring a discrete frame 150 of a body-on-frame vehicle to securing aunibody vehicle having a pinch weld 154. It is further noted that incontrast to prior art vehicle anchoring apparatuses currently disclosedvehicle anchoring apparatus 10 is adapted such that a high quantity ofload contact locations are made with a vehicle so as to substantiallyuniformly distribute vehicle corrective deformation loads such that avehicle is properly aligned without damaging the vehicle's structure.

1. A vehicle frame anchoring apparatus comprising a mounting post havinga plurality of dissimilarly configured vices structurally connectedthereto and adapted such that a first vice clamping position isrepositionally adjustable relative to a second vice clamping position,and such that and said first vice is expressly adapted to clamp to andsecure a discrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle and said second viceis expressly adapted to clamp to and secure a pinch weld of a unibodyvehicle.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus isvertically adjustable.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vicesfurther comprise at least one primary vice and at least one an auxiliaryvice.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said at least one primaryvice includes a plurality of grasping digits and is adapted to secure adiscrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle, and wherein at least one anauxiliary vice is adapted to secure a pinch weld of a unibody vehicle.5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said at least one primary viceincludes a discrete vehicle frame removably clamped therein, and whereinsaid at least one an auxiliary vice includes a vehicle pinch weldremovably clamped therein.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidanchoring apparatus includes a mounting post connected to said pluralityof vices.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vices include aplurality of engagement projections extending from said vices.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said vices is adapted suchthat the angular clamping orientation of said vice is variable.
 9. Avehicle frame anchoring apparatus comprising a mounting post and aplurality of vices repositionably connected to said post, wherein afirst vice of said vices includes at least one grasping digit and isadapted to clamp to a discrete frame of a vehicle, and wherein a secondvice of said vices includes at least one grasping plate and is adaptedto clamp to a pinch weld of a vehicle.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9,wherein said vice having said at least one grasping digit is removablyclamped to a discrete frame of a vehicle, and wherein said vice havingsaid at least one grasping plate is removably clamped to a pinch weld ofa vehicle.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of saidvices is adapted such that the angular clamping orientation of said viceis variable.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said vices include aplurality of engagement projections extending from said vices. 13.-20.(canceled)
 21. A vehicle anchoring apparatus comprising at least onefirst vice and at least one second vice, wherein said first vice isstructurally secured to said second vice, and wherein said first vice isexpressly adapted to clamp to and secure a discrete frame of abody-on-frame vehicle, and wherein said second vice is expressly adaptedto clamp to and secure a pinch weld of a unibody vehicle.
 22. Thevehicle anchoring apparatus of claim 21, wherein said first viceincludes a plurality of grasping digits, and wherein said second viceincludes at least one grasping plate.
 23. The vehicle anchoringapparatus of claim 22, wherein each of said plurality of grasping digitsincludes a grasping digit shank, said shank having at least a firstshank portion and a second shank portion, and wherein said first shankportion defines a shank portion having a substantially circularcross-sectional shape, and wherein said second shank portion defines ashank portion having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape.24. The vehicle anchoring apparatus of claim 21, wherein said first viceincludes a discrete frame of a vehicle clamped therein, and wherein saidsecond vice includes a pinch weld of a vehicle clamped therein.
 25. Thevehicle anchoring apparatus of claim 21, wherein said apparatus issecured to a mounting post.
 26. The vehicle anchoring apparatus of claim21, wherein at least one of said vices is adapted such that the angularclamping orientation of said vice is variably adjustable.
 27. Thevehicle anchoring apparatus of claim 21, wherein said apparatus isexpressly adapted such that apparatus may be switched from securing adiscrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle to securing a pinch weld of aunibody vehicle without a “take down” or a setup of said apparatus. 28.The vehicle anchoring apparatus of claim 21, wherein said apparatus isexpressly adapted such that when said apparatus clamps at least one of adiscrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle and a pinch weld of a unibodyvehicle and a vehicle deformation correction load is applied to saidclamped vehicle, said vehicle is correctively aligned withoutsubstantially damaging said discrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle orsaid pinch weld of a unibody vehicle.